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Carnival's fate to be decided

Published: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 11:46 p.m.

Growing concern over what's supposed to be a rainy Sunday, Monday and Tuesday prompted the Terrebonne Parish Council to call a special meeting for this afternoon.

The council will meet at 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., Houma, to decide whether to postpone the last few days of Carnival, a move that requires officials to amend local law.

Parish Code says the local Carnival parade season must end by midnight on Fat Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is calling for a 60 percent chance of severe thunderstorms Sunday through Tuesday.

The stormy weather could prevent krewes from parading on their scheduled days, and absent emergency action from the council, they can't parade after Tuesday.

Today's meeting will allow council members and others to debate the wisdom of postponing the parades until after the threat has passed, Parish Council Chairwoman Beryl Amedee said.

There's been no decision made on when the parades would be held instead.

There's been no talk of delaying parades in Lafourche. Officials there said the decision would be up to law enforcement and Carnival officials.

The possible postponement in Terrebonne isn't intended to divert from the holiday's religious implication or the start of the Lenten season, Amedee said. Rather, it is to weigh the economic impact on those who spent money on throws, costumes and other parade-related expenses.

Carnival, which lasts for about two weeks and ends on Fat Tuesday, is a time to blow off steam ahead of Lent, the period of fasting and repentance before Easter.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said he's been inundated with calls from krewe members and others who want concessions made allowing the parades to roll later if the bad weather gets in the way.

In past years, krewes have had their parades delayed because of bad weather. The clubs typically have a Plan B in place that allows them to parade behind another krewe a day or two later.

But that's not happened, at least that anyone can recall, to the Krewe of Houmas, which rolls on Fat Tuesday — the final day of Carnival season, Larpenter said.

"The issue is whether we want it or not," he said of the rescheduling discussions. "No one can recall if the Krewe of Houmas has ever been canceled before. And many would say you can't move the parade due to Lent."

Longtime Krewe of Hercules member S.P. LaRussa said the council should reschedule the parades, if only to help krewes with a long history of community service.

"If you have a religious problem, you don't go to the parade," LaRussa said. "We're talking about over a thousand riders planning all year long for this. I don't think this has anything to do about anybody's faith."

LaRussa predicted that the council will vote to allow the krewes to parade after Fat Tuesday because "anybody who votes against it is committing political suicide."

Larpenter said he understands the desire to parade, especially given the investment made by each rider.

"I will support the krewes and the council if they decide to change that date," he said. "I don't like seeing a parade riding in the middle of a thunderstorm with potential tornado warnings in place."

<p>Growing concern over what's supposed to be a rainy Sunday, Monday and Tuesday prompted the Terrebonne Parish Council to call a special meeting for this afternoon.</p><p>The council will meet at 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., Houma, to decide whether to postpone the last few days of Carnival, a move that requires officials to amend local law. </p><p>Parish Code says the local Carnival parade season must end by midnight on Fat Tuesday. </p><p>The National Weather Service is calling for a 60 percent chance of severe thunderstorms Sunday through Tuesday. </p><p>The stormy weather could prevent krewes from parading on their scheduled days, and absent emergency action from the council, they can't parade after Tuesday.</p><p>Today's meeting will allow council members and others to debate the wisdom of postponing the parades until after the threat has passed, Parish Council Chairwoman Beryl Amedee said. </p><p>There's been no decision made on when the parades would be held instead.</p><p>There's been no talk of delaying parades in Lafourche. Officials there said the decision would be up to law enforcement and Carnival officials.</p><p>The possible postponement in Terrebonne isn't intended to divert from the holiday's religious implication or the start of the Lenten season, Amedee said. Rather, it is to weigh the economic impact on those who spent money on throws, costumes and other parade-related expenses.</p><p>Carnival, which lasts for about two weeks and ends on Fat Tuesday, is a time to blow off steam ahead of Lent, the period of fasting and repentance before Easter. </p><p>Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said he's been inundated with calls from krewe members and others who want concessions made allowing the parades to roll later if the bad weather gets in the way.</p><p>In past years, krewes have had their parades delayed because of bad weather. The clubs typically have a Plan B in place that allows them to parade behind another krewe a day or two later.</p><p>But that's not happened, at least that anyone can recall, to the Krewe of Houmas, which rolls on Fat Tuesday — the final day of Carnival season, Larpenter said.</p><p>"The issue is whether we want it or not," he said of the rescheduling discussions. "No one can recall if the Krewe of Houmas has ever been canceled before. And many would say you can't move the parade due to Lent."</p><p>Longtime Krewe of Hercules member S.P. LaRussa said the council should reschedule the parades, if only to help krewes with a long history of community service.</p><p>"If you have a religious problem, you don't go to the parade," LaRussa said. "We're talking about over a thousand riders planning all year long for this. I don't think this has anything to do about anybody's faith."</p><p>LaRussa predicted that the council will vote to allow the krewes to parade after Fat Tuesday because "anybody who votes against it is committing political suicide."</p><p>Larpenter said he understands the desire to parade, especially given the investment made by each rider.</p><p>"I will support the krewes and the council if they decide to change that date," he said. "I don't like seeing a parade riding in the middle of a thunderstorm with potential tornado warnings in place."</p>